KANSAS CITY, Kan., March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KansasCityCIO , chapter of the Inspire Leadership Network, announced the winners of its 2025 ORBIE® Awards. The Awards honor exceptional technology executives who have demonstrated excellence in innovation, leadership, and business impact.

KansasCityCIO recognized outstanding leaders across six categories: Global, Large Enterprise, Enterprise, Large Corporate, Corporate & Leadership. The Awards were presented at the Kansas City ORBIE Awards at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.

"The Kansas City technology community was well represented at the Kansas City ORBIE Awards! Award recipients came from companies across our great city, each demonstrating excellence in leveraging information and technology to drive their organizations forward,” said Byron Clymer, KansasCityCIO Chair. "But they didn't do it alone; every winner credited their teams, emphasizing that this award is a shared achievement. That's what the Kansas City ORBIE Awards are all about - recognizing great leaders and the teams driving Kansas City's business community forward.”

›› Terry Owens, Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, Honeywell, received the Leadership ORBIE.

›› Derrick Leggett, SVP & CIO, American Multi-Cinema, Inc., received the Global ORBIE for organizations over $1.4 billion annual revenue & multinational operations.

›› David Maddox, CTO, BJC Health System, received the Large Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $3 billion annual revenue.

›› Tanya Arthur, CIO, Mosaic Life Care, received the Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $700 million annual revenue.

›› Michael Lehman, VP, IT & CIO, WireCo, received the Large Corporate ORBIE for organizations over $500 million annual revenue.

›› Jana Merfen, CTO, CrossFirst Bank, received the Corporate ORBIE for organizations up to $500 million annual revenue.

The Kansas City ORBIE Awards keynote was delivered by Terry Owens, Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, Honeywell, who was interviewed by Scott Morris, CTO, NAIC. Over 300 guests attended, representing leading Kansas City organizations and their technology partners.

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KansasCityCIO is the preeminent peer leadership networks for chief information officers (CIOs) in Kansas City. As one of over 40 chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, KansasCityCIO is part of a national membership organization that is exclusively made up of CIOs from public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit institutions.

KansasCityCIO is led by a CIO Advisory Board, with support from an executive director and staff. Underwriter executives play a crucial role in ensuring programs remain non-commercial and exclusive to qualified CIOs and members.

Inspire Leadership Network is the preeminent executive peer leadership network of C-suite technology and security leaders. Approaching 2,000 members across more than 40 local chapters, Inspire members serve public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and non-profit institutions. Inspire exists to help leaders thrive in today's most challenging executive roles.